The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Chelsea wins tourney
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: December 4, 2008
Chelsea hockey captured its eighth annual Thanksgiving Tournament at the Arctic Coliseum last Friday and Saturday.
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The Bulldogs (2-1-1) defeated perennial state power East Grand Rapids 2-1 in overtime for the title.
Though winning the tournament, Chelsea lost leading scorer junior Drew Brown to injury in the first period against the Pioneers.
"He'll be out for a few weeks with a broken finger," said Chelsea coach Don Wright. "With Drew being out, our chemistry on our lines changed. We also had two other forwards out with injuries."
Because of the change in lines and a shorter bench, Wright said East Grand Rapids carried play early.
"They had more shots on goal from a lot of different places," he said. "(Chelsea goalie) Joey (Hume) played extremely well. Overall, it was a good game. Our players found a way to get through adversity. We found a way to get it done."
After two scoreless periods to start the game, sophomore Charlie Hess put the Bulldogs on top with a goal off an assist from senior Steven O'Keefe and junior Trevor Mattson at 2:01 of the third period.
At the 9:41 mark of the third period, Nick Gavern scored for the Pioneers tying the contest at 1-1 forcing overtime.
In the extra session, senior Randy Cox scored the game-winner for Chelsea at 6:10 of the frame, converting a pass from seniors Ethan Johnson and Bryan Manitz for the final 2-1 margin.
The Pioneers out-shot the Bulldogs 40-20 for the night.
Earning the win in net for Chelsea was Hume.
To begin the tournament, the Bulldogs defeated Cadillac, one of northern Michigan's top programs, 3-2.
Johnson opened the scoring with a goal at 11:24 of the first period. Cox and Brown picked up assists on the play for Chelsea.
At 5:41 of the second period, Cox scored a power play goal increasing the Bulldogs' advantage to 2-0. Junior Blake Blaha and Manitz recorded assists on the goal.
Three minutes later, Cox scored his second goal of the contest, giving Chelsea a 3-0 lead. Brown and Blaha assisted for the Bulldogs.
In the third period, P.J. O'Hagen scored at 6:27 of the stanza for the Vikings, cutting Chelsea's lead to 3-1.
At 10:13 of the third period, Ian Foster scored for Cadillac for the night's ending margin.
The Bulldogs out-shot the Vikings 33-20 for the game.
Hume picked up the win in net for Chelsea.
"I wasn't happy giving up goals in the third period," Wright said. "We need to do a better job in our own zone. Defensively, we need to shore things up. Overall, though, we played another good game."
In the tournament's other first round contest, East Grand Rapids beat Detroit Country Day 5-2.
In the tournament consolation contest, Cadillac beat Country Day 4-3 in overtime.
On Nov. 26, visiting Chelsea tied Ann Arbor Huron 3-3.
"This was a somewhat disappointing game," Wright said. "We controlled the game and had pressure on them all night. We only gave up a handful of chances. Their goalie, Luke Dwyer, did a great job in net."
Fifteen seconds into the contest, Zack Goodman scored for the River Rats.
At the 11:00 mark of the first period, Brown scored a power play goal for the Bulldogs off an assist from Cox tying the game at 1-1.
With eight seconds left in the first period, Goodman scored shorthanded for Huron giving the River Rats a 2-1 advantage.
In the second period, Brown scored at 2:48 of the frame off an assist from Cox and Johnson tying the game at 2-2.
Five minutes later, Brown scored giving Chelsea a 3-2 lead. Cox and Johnson assisted on the play.
"That was a great shot from the blue line," Wright said.
Justin Roose scored for Huron at 12:16 of the second period for the night's ending tally.
"We couldn't get the puck in the net in the third period and in overtime," Wright said. "We had a lot of great chances."
Hume preserved the tie in net for the Bulldogs.
In the season opener, host Chelsea lost to Canton 5-4 Nov. 12.
Nick Tomilenko scored on the power play for the Chiefs at 7:10 of the first period for a 1-0 lead.
One minute later, Brown tied the game up with a goal off a pass from Cox.
Mark Barath scored a power play goal at 9:35 of the first period for a 2-1 Canton advantage.
In the second period, Brown scored on the power play at 1:39 of the frame off an assist from Manitz tying the contest at 2-2.
Johnson scored at 9:06 of the second stanza for a 3-2 Chelsea lead. Brown and Cox assisted.
At 3:51 of the third period, Cox scored upping the Bulldogs' lead to 4-2. Brown assisted for Chelsea.
Canton's A.J. Rosales scored at 10:51 of the third period trimming the Bulldogs' lead to 4-3.
Two minutes later, Tomilenko scored tying the contest at 4-4.
With one second left in the game, Tomilenko scored the for the night's final 5-4 margin.
"We got sloppy in the third in our own zone," Wright said. "We started watching versus picking guys up. We were in a good position to win the game, but we couldn't get it done."
Chelsea next hosts Plymouth Saturday at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Bulldogs host Jackson Lumen Christi at 6:30 p.m.
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